Teens charged with arson in May 19 fire

Residents of a fire-damaged home on Jefferson Avenue near Scotia Street react to seeing the aftermath of the May 19 blaze that destroyed the house next door. . Photo Store

Two teenagers were arrested and are facing arson charges in connection with a fire on May 19 that destroyed one home and damaged three others.

Emergency services got the call around 8:45 a.m. on May 19 about a fire in the 100 block of Jefferson Avenue. By the time they arrived, two houses were fully engulfed in flames, and the fire was spreading to two more on either side.

No one was injured in the fire, and authorities confirmed the next day that the cause of the fire was arson. The damage to all four homes is estimated at half a million dollars.

Bradley Larocque, whose house was one of those damaged, told the Winnipeg Free Press in May that he had come back from a morning run and was making breakfast when he noticed a kid running out of the house next door.

"All of a sudden I heard 'whoosh,'" he said. "I looked out behind the blinds and I could see it glowing red."

After an investigation by the arson unit, two male youths, one 16, the other 15, have been charged with arson causing damage to property, arson with disregard to human life, as well as break, enter and commit and possession of incendiary material.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call 204-986-6813 or Crime Stoppers at 204-786-TIPS (8477).